You see the headlines every August. Some kicker from a league you barely watched just nailed a 60-yarder in an NFL preseason game, and suddenly everyone is scrambling to Google who he is. That’s the reality for united football league players. They aren't just "NFL castoffs" or guys who couldn't make the cut. Honestly, they are the backbone of a developmental ecosystem that is finally, after years of spring football experiments, actually working.
Take Jake Bates. In 2024, he was kicking balls in Detroit for the Michigan Panthers. A year later, he’s a household name for Lions fans. But Bates is just the tip of the iceberg. As we move into the 2026 season, the caliber of talent across the UFL has shifted. It’s no longer just about getting a second chance; it’s about proving that the gap between a "bubble" NFL player and a UFL superstar is razor-thin.
The Quarterback Carousel and the "Spring King"
If you want to understand the hierarchy of united football league players, you have to start with the signal-callers. Luis Perez, often called the "Spring King," is basically the godfather of this league. He’s played everywhere—Arlington, Vegas, New Jersey—and he just keeps winning. In 2025, he led the league in passing yards ($2,298$) and completion percentage ($71.6%$). The guy is a machine.
But it's not just the veterans. The 2026 landscape is getting crowded with younger talent looking for that "Purdy-esque" rise to fame.
- Jordan Ta’amu (DC Defenders): The 2025 Championship MVP is back. He’s the heart of the Defenders' "Beer Snake" culture and, frankly, one of the most exciting dual-threats outside of the NFL.
- Matt Corral (Birmingham Stallions): A former Ole Miss star and NFL third-round pick. He’s got the arm talent to be in the league, but he needs the consistency that only 10 weeks of live UFL reps can provide.
- Max Duggan (St. Louis Battlehawks): The former TCU Heisman finalist. He struggled initially but showed flashes of that 2022 magic late in the 2025 season.
The Stallions, under head coach (and former QB) AJ McCarron, have built a room that’s arguably better than some NFL practice squads. They recently snagged Taylor Elgersma, a Canadian standout who had a cup of coffee with the Packers. It's this mix of "almost-weres" and "next-ups" that makes the QB play so volatile and, honestly, kind of awesome to watch.
Why NFL Scouts Are Obsessed With UFL Defenders
Scouts aren't just looking at the flashy touchdown passes. They’re looking at the trenches and the secondary. In 2025, the UFL sent 46 players to NFL opening-day rosters or practice squads. That’s a massive number.
💡 You might also like: Why Isn't Mbappe Playing Today: The Real Madrid Crisis Explained
Perrion Winfrey is the poster child for this. After some off-field hurdles and being let go by the Browns, he landed with the Birmingham Stallions. He didn't just play; he dominated. 29 tackles and a forced fumble later, the Dallas Cowboys came calling. He made their 53-man roster. That doesn't happen by accident.
Then you have guys like Ajene Harris in Arlington. He led the league with 3 interceptions in 2025. Or Kai Nacua, a safety who has become a ballhawk for the DC Defenders. These united football league players provide "high-quality tape" against professional schemes, which is worth way more to an NFL GM than a workout in shorts and a t-shirt.
The 2026 Draft and the New Blood
The 2026 UFL Draft, held just this January in Arlington, showed how much the league is expanding. We saw the introduction of the Columbus Aviators and the Louisville Kings. New teams mean more roster spots, which means more talent staying in the game instead of selling insurance.
Amani Bledsoe, a defensive tackle, went No. 1 overall to the Stallions. It wasn't a "sexy" pick, but it was a smart one. You win in the spring with defense and special teams. The Aviators, led by former NFL speedster Ted Ginn Jr., went the opposite route, loading up on offensive weapons like Keke Chism.
Surprising Stats from the 2025 Season
| Player | Team | Notable Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob Saylors | St. Louis | 960 Rushing Yards (League Leader) |
| Sal Cannella | Arlington | 474 Receiving Yards (TE Leader) |
| Siaosi Mariner | Michigan | 527 Receiving Yards (Snubbed from All-UFL) |
Honestly, Siaosi Mariner being left off the All-UFL team was a travesty. He led the league in receiving yardage despite being on a team that struggled with passing consistency for half the year. If you’re looking for a breakout candidate for a 2026 NFL camp, put his name at the top of your list.
📖 Related: Tottenham vs FC Barcelona: Why This Matchup Still Matters in 2026
The "Kicker" Effect: More Than Just Jake Bates
We have to talk about the kickers. It’s become a meme at this point, but the UFL is legitimately a kicker factory. Brandon Aubrey (Cowboys) and Jake Bates (Lions) proved that the pressure of a spring league game—where every point feels like life or death for a career—is the perfect forge.
In the 2025 season, Harrison Mevis (the "Thicker Kicker" from Missouri) became the next big thing for the Stallions before being scooped up by the Jets and later the Rams. If you see a guy lining up for a 55-yarder in a UFL game, don't look away. You’re likely looking at an NFL starter in six months.
The Reality of the "Grind"
Let's be real: being one of the united football league players is a grind. It’s not the private jets and six-figure weekly checks of the NFL. It’s hub cities, shared hotel rooms, and the constant anxiety that one bad game could be the end of the road.
But there’s a nuance here. For many, like RB Jacob Saylors, the UFL provides something the NFL practice squad can't: "toddler" reps. In the NFL, a practice squad back might never take a hit in a live game for three years. In the UFL, Saylors is getting 15-20 carries a game. He’s learning how to read blocks at game speed. That's why the Detroit Lions brought him back onto their practice squad after he tore up the UFL.
What to Watch for in the 2026 Season
If you're tracking united football league players this year, keep an eye on the "Allocation Process." The league has changed how it handles quarterbacks, allowing coaches to essentially "claim" their guys early to build chemistry. This should, in theory, lead to higher scoring and fewer of those "drab goalless draws" we occasionally saw in the early USFL/XFL merger days.
👉 See also: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The addition of names like Clayton Tune (Columbus) and Austin Reed (Dallas) brings a new level of "FBS-star" power to the league. Reed threw for over 15,000 yards in college. Seeing how that translates to the pro game—specifically against defenses coached by guys like Gregg Williams—is going to be the main storyline of the spring.
How to Follow the Players Who Make the Jump
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, don't just watch the games. Follow the transaction wire.
- Check the UFL-to-NFL Tracker: Sites like Pro Football Newsroom maintain a live list of every signing.
- Monitor NFL Training Camps: Look for UFL alums in the "third-string" battles. Usually, if a UFL guy survives the first round of cuts in August, he’s got a 50/50 shot at the practice squad.
- Watch for "Specialists": Long snappers, punters, and return men from the UFL are increasingly common on NFL Sundays.
The UFL isn't a "minor league" in the way we think of Triple-A baseball. It’s a second chance for some, a developmental lab for others, and a final proving ground for the rest. Whether it’s Luis Perez throwing another perfect slant or a defensive end like Dondrea Tillman getting his first NFL sack, these players are proving that there is plenty of great football left outside of the 32 NFL stadiums.
To stay updated on the latest roster moves and 2026 depth charts, you should keep an eye on the official UFL transactions page as training camps begin in February. Watching how the newly drafted players from the January 2026 pool integrate with established veterans will give you the best indicator of who might be the next breakout star to land an NFL contract by the fall.